THE HAMMOCK
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 1, NO. 36
BRINGING THE ENERGY PAGE 1B
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2026
Remains found, after 22 years Sheriff’s Office finds remains believed to be that of Mary Lou Combs, thanks to dive teams and FBI. PAGE 3A
County Masks for Miracles to benefit hospitalized kids resolves dispute with Flagler Beach ‘People’s hearts just open up for the cause,’ Organizer Pam Capela said. Event is scheduled for March 21. SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER
Summertown development to move forward. PAGE 6A INSIDE TEEN FOUND
Missing Palm Coast teen dies in train tragedy. PAGE 2A
READINESS
Kindergarten readiness lagging in Flagler, superintendent says. PAGE 5A
PIRATES SOFTBALL
Ponte Vedra Sharks bite back in return visit to Matanzas. PAGE 10B
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 5B Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner................PAGE 2A Crossword.................PAGE 10B Letters........................ PAGE 9A Public Notices............ PAGE 5C Schools....................... PAGE 4B Sports......................... PAGE 8B Tributes ...................... PAGE 4C Real Estate................. PAGE 6B
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The second annual Masks for Miracles fundraiser to benefit hospitalized children is scheduled for March 21. The event is a masquerade ball and casino night that raises money for the nonprofit Live Like Cameron, which honors the memory of 9-year-old Cameron Fulling who died of brain cancer in 2017. The funds raised at the masquerade will go to filling Live Like Cameron’s Bags of Hope, which provide tailored comfort items to kids in the hospital, including bedding, crafts, toys, books and pajamas. Co-organizer Pamela Capela said the fundraiser will benefit 42 children this year, including six infants. “There’s this magic in the air, and people’s hearts just open up for the cause,” Capela said. “It’s really an incredible night filled with so much emotion.” The fundraiser will be held at 6 p.m. at the Hammock Dunes Club. Tickets can be purchased online at Masks4Miracles.com. Capela is the broker and owner of RE/MAX Select Professionals located at 5070 N. Ocean Shore Blvd. She and her son Jayd Capela, of Motto Mortgage, run Masks for Miracles and the charity golf tournament Take a Swing at Hunger through their joint nonprofit Cornerstone 386 LLC. Masks for Miracles tries to meet the need of children recently diagnosed with cancer in the hospital, Capela said. Their team at Cornerstone was inspired by mission of Live Like Cameron. Dan and Melisa Fulling created Live Like Cameron after their son Cameron died, to provide financial assistance to families of child cancer patients and to bring care packages to comfort kids during their hospitalizations. Melisa Fulling said their Bags of Hope are
The 2025 Masks4Miracles fundraiser. From left to right: Pam Capela, Dan and Melissa Fulling and Jayd Capela. Courtesy of Pam Capela
tailored to each child who is newly diagnosed and also themed for the holiday. The Masks for Miracles bags will be Easter themed. “The bags have stuff to help decorate their hospital room and kind of bring Easter morning to them in the hospital,” she said. Fulling said her family spent a lot of time in the hospital with Cameron, so they know what it is like to be there and how depressing it can be. “It helps me keep Cameron’s memory alive just to help bring a little bit of joy to them during such a difficult time,” she said. “It means everything to me.” Capela said the Cornerstone became very passionate about Live Like Cameron’s mission and how the Fullings help other kids. “So we decided that we would stand alongside them and raise funds,” she said. They decided on a masquerade theme because they wanted it to be “a night filled with magic and bliss” for “a very opulent, fun eve-
ning.” Their first event sold out of all 120 tickets. Attendees will be able to play various casino games like roulette, Wheel of Fortune, black jack, craps or poker by purchasing additional “tickets.” The event also has a live auction and curated meals for guests to enjoy. “It’s very high-end, like a gala,” she said. All the funds are used for either raffling items or toward the overall fundraising goal. Capela said she is in awe of Fulling’s strength to return to the hospital every year. “She takes these Bags of Hope,”
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Capela said, “and she revisits that place of pain every single time, to bring comfort.” Fulling said she always looks forward to bringing the kids their Easter Bags of Hope. The first year it was so hard, she said she didn’t even know if she could even go inside the hospital. “But once I did that, I get to see that it brings some joy to the kids,” Fulling said. “It just reminds me of my son, because he was always so happy. Even though he had a very difficult time, he was always so happy.” Email sierra@observerlocalnews. com.
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